I was an English teacher at Westwood HS from 71-81 and had the pleasure of team-teaching with Fran Burns for several of those years. She was the most proficient and professional English teacher I have ever known. I learned a great deal from Miss Burns. Even after all these years I still have the beautiful ornaments Fran and her dad made for the teachers in her department. Rest in peace, Fran. You completed the course. You won the race. You kept the faith.
Dave Sanfason
As a proud graduate of WHS Class of 1962, I feel so privileged to have been in Miss Burns' senior English class. She prepared me well for my future careers. How lovely to learn how she enjoyed her retirement life in her family home in Duxbury. I'm imagining that she must have been one of those "special aunts" we all treasure, and offer her nieces heartfelt sympathy for her loss.
With gratitude for having known her,
Dianne Watson Rankin
In 1958 I took senior English from Ms. Burns. She inspired me to go on in English. I eventually earned a PhD in Comparative Literature from University of Southern California in 1972, and went on to teach English Literature and Comparative Literature at Texas Tech University for 40 years. I believe I owe it to Ms. Burns for her honest excellence and passion for teaching English. Ann Abernathy Ransdell
I wrote a short blog post about my Aunt Fran. So many memories of growing up in Duxbury. I'm glad I got to visit a couple of times with both my late and my current husband. https://myprimeyears.com/i-lost-my-aunt-this-week/
I’m sad to hear of Frances’ passing. She was also predeceased by her aunt Sylvia (Wood) Govoni of Plympton and her cousins Joseph and Ralph Jr.
I don’t know why our families were not that close but when I was young my father took us over to visit and the house many times. I liked Frances. She was always very nice to us. Rest in peace.
